An N-H⋯Cl hydrogen bond connects the ions in the title salt, C(18)H(16)NO(+)·Cl(-). The quinolin-1-ium residue is almost planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.020 Å) but both the acetyl group [O-C-C-C torsion angle = 62.73 (17)°] and adjacent benzene ring [C-C-C-C torsion angle = -104.06 (14)°] are twisted out of this plane; the acetyl and benzene substituents are non-parallel [dihedral angle = 66.16 (7)°]. The crystal packing is consolidated by C-H⋯O and C-H⋯Cl contacts.